Ideals
As we grow up, a lot of images are established in our mind. They shape our hopes and our future. Many of these are ideals -- things that never happen to anyone, or happen in only rare situations. Yet we strive for them.
Ideals such as having the life of a young man in college, living in a dorm. Ideals such as celebrity, like being a ladies' man. Some enjoy having achieved these ideals, (such as Erik von Markovik a.k.a. "Mystery"). But has it made them any happier? We want success, but does success bring happiness, or are we better off getting happiness in other ways?
A few years ago I looked at a book called The Pursuit of Happiness . One of its main goals was to note that Americans are so well-off compared to other peoples (on everage), yet are unhappier than others. Why?
One major reason given were the high expectations Americans had. If you fail to achieve these expectations, perhaps you are not as happy as you thought you'd be. On the other hand, I know people who have common things, average things, that bring them happiness. Dale Carnegie said, "success is getting what you want. But happiness is wanting what you get." We have to take time to be smart about securing our happiness.
As a young man, I was idealistic. I wanted to be attracted, fall in love, and marry... after I had dated and had the social life of a single bachelor. The girl I would be attracted to wouldn't have to be super-beautiful, but she had to have the types of looks I am attracted to... she had to be my type. And we had to click. I was idealistic then. I'm still idealistic now. But I have become more practical.
What do I want in the long run? I want a happy life with a wonderful wife, and children. I want a house and a comfortable living, and I want to let loose my creativity. I want to make a difference in the world. Are these ideals?
Ideals such as having the life of a young man in college, living in a dorm. Ideals such as celebrity, like being a ladies' man. Some enjoy having achieved these ideals, (such as Erik von Markovik a.k.a. "Mystery"). But has it made them any happier? We want success, but does success bring happiness, or are we better off getting happiness in other ways?
A few years ago I looked at a book called The Pursuit of Happiness . One of its main goals was to note that Americans are so well-off compared to other peoples (on everage), yet are unhappier than others. Why?
One major reason given were the high expectations Americans had. If you fail to achieve these expectations, perhaps you are not as happy as you thought you'd be. On the other hand, I know people who have common things, average things, that bring them happiness. Dale Carnegie said, "success is getting what you want. But happiness is wanting what you get." We have to take time to be smart about securing our happiness.
As a young man, I was idealistic. I wanted to be attracted, fall in love, and marry... after I had dated and had the social life of a single bachelor. The girl I would be attracted to wouldn't have to be super-beautiful, but she had to have the types of looks I am attracted to... she had to be my type. And we had to click. I was idealistic then. I'm still idealistic now. But I have become more practical.
What do I want in the long run? I want a happy life with a wonderful wife, and children. I want a house and a comfortable living, and I want to let loose my creativity. I want to make a difference in the world. Are these ideals?
posted by A Man at 1:28 AM
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